Cutter and trimmer



, Nov. 8, 1949 H. c. DREISCHERF 2,487,224

CUTTER AND TRIMMER Filed June 15, 1944 k3 J /6 H 35 26 I I3Ill/111471114,

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ATTY.

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT .oFrlcs I otrlu'naMin m Thisinvention relates to grass cutters and hedge trimmers of the generalclass described in U. S. Patent No. 2,427,265, dated September 9. 1947.

Machines of this type are equipped with a motor-driven cutting bladewhich is rotatably disposed between a peripherally toothed top guardplate and a generally circular bottom guard or guide plate. The twoplates are held together by means of radially aligned arms extendingtherefrom at one side thereof, and Joined by a bolt. The bottom platecarries another radial extension projecting therefrom opposite the armwhich is bolted to the corresponding arm of the top plate. On thislatter extension of the bottom plate is mounted an upwardly projectingguard or guide element, usually referred to as finger guide, which isintended to guide the handling of the machine and to protect the cuttingblade against damaging edgewise contact with stationary objects such aswalls, posts, fences and the like. The bottom guide plate isindispensable in such structures and must be removed whenever it isdesired to gain access to the cutting blade for removal thereof, forexample, for

the purpose of sharpening the cutting edges.

Such machines exhibit certain shortcomings. For example, the removal ofthe bottom guard plate is frequently rendered diiiicult because the boltholding together the two radial extensions of the plates is usuallyjammed'and requires application of more or less force, even the use of abench vise to loosen it, thus delaying operation and calling for massivestructures which are entirely out of proportion with the overall size ofthe machine. The radially extending relatively massive arms for mountingthe plates constitute unsightly and, from the operational point of view,deterimental obstructions. They also increase the weight of the machineand therefore contribute to fatigue of the operator in handling it.

2 Claims. (01. 56-25.)

There is no control over the path or course of the cut grass orshrubbery fragments. Such fragments are usually wet and are propelledoutwardly and upwardly, which constitutes a nuisance and inconvenienceto the operator, who must wear leggings or the like in order to havesome protection against the cold and moist fragments deposited on hisbody. The finger guide referred to before is shaped in old structures insuch a way as to require twisting of the machine for the purpose ofproper trimming, e. g., alongside the straight edge of a pedestal,tombstone, and the like.

The invention eliminates these and other shortcomings, by simplifyingcertain elements and by providing new guide and guard structures,resulting in improved handling and operation of the machine.

Among the specific objects of the invention are the following: (1) theprovision of an apron or skirt which is integral with the top guardplate and depends therefrom, covering a peripheral sector which is inradial alignment with the handle, facing the operator, and guiding grassand shrubbery fragments downwardly to' the ground, thus protecting theoperator against contact with such fragments; (2) the provision of abottom guard plate having a radially projecting arm for interlinkingmounting coaction with a groove or slot in the apron depending from thetop plate, thus holding the bottom plate against angular displacementrelative to the top plate;

(3) the provision of mounting means on the top plate for receiving theradial arm of the bottom plate, and a device for protecting and securingsuch mounting means against ingress of moisture and fragments whichmight cause or contribute toward binding and Jamming thereof; (4) theprovision of a finger guide acting as a blade guard and grass guideelement secured to the top guard plate and projecting therefrom radiallyoutwardly and downwardly, in edgewise positional relationship with theblade, thus avoiding obstruction of the cutting area radially of thebottom guard plate. This element is secured on the top guard plate bymeans which are similar to the means for mounting the mounting guardplate thereon. and is so constructed and arranged that grass is alwaysguided into the path of the blade to eliminate twisting of the machinewhen trimming is desired along a straight path; and (5) the apron at oneend of the machine and the finger guide at the other end thereof may beused in the manner of skids to keep the blade suspended at a properheight, thus permitting use of the machine without a bottom guard plate.

These and other objects and features will be described more in detailwith reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Fig. 1 isan example of a grass cutter or hedge trimmer made in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view, with some parts broken away, taken approximatelyalong lines 2-4 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the attachment of the bottom guard orguide plate to the top guard plate taken approximately along lines 3-3in Fi 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the structiu'e taken approximately along lines44 in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views, through parts disposed on top of themachine, taken approximately along lines 5-5 and 8-6 in Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral ll indicates a suitable motormounted on the tubular neck I2 projecting from the top guard or guideplate It. Numeral l4 indicates a mounting for a handle l5. This mountingmay be attached at l6 to a clamp shell H. A cord l8 supplies current tothe motor II. I

The top plate I8 is provided with peripheral teeth 20. The motor shaft2| extends downwardly through the top plate l3, and attached to thisshaft is a cutting blade 22. The peripheral teeth on the top plate l3may be made as described in the previously mentioned U. S. Patent No.2,427,265. The structure of the cutting blade and its coaction withthese peripheral teeth may likewise correspond to that described in thecopending application.

The bottom guard or guide plate is provided with a radially projectingextension 26 which is bent angularly upwardly and inwardly, as indicatedin Figs. 2 and 3 at 21, terminating in the arm 28 which extends in aplane in parallel with the plane of the plate 25.

The peripherally toothed top plate l3 carries an extension forming anapron or skirt 30 which is integral with the top plate l3 and extendsdownwardly and outwardly, as shown in the drawings. This skirt or aproncovers a peripheral sector of the top plate 13 which is in radialalignment with the handle it and thus faces the operator. Grass andshrubbery fragments cut by the blade 22 are propelled outwardly, and inthis angular sector covered by the apron 38 they are forced in a pathdownwardly to the ground. This feature eliminates the shortcomings ofprevious structures of this type in which the shrubbery and grassfragments are propelled against and deposited on the body of theoperator.

The skirt or apron 30 is provided with a slot or groove 29 for receivingthe upwardly and inwardly curving portion of the arm 28 of the bottomplate- 25. Mounting loops 35, 36 are punched or pressed out from thematerial of the top plate l3, leaving a central ridge 31. The arm 28 ispushed into the radially extending rectangular space formed by the loopsand 36. These loops constitute part of the mounting means for the arm 28and therefore for the bottom plate 25. The space between the loops 35and 36 is filled in by means of a special bridge piece 48, the form ofwhich is particularly apparent from Fig. 5. The bridge piece is shapedexactly like the loops 35 and 36, and is provided with a hole forreceiving the threaded bolt 4|, which extends through the bridge piece40 and through a hole in the arm 28 and is threaded into the interveningridge 31, thus holding the arm 28 and therewith the bottom plate 25firmly in place and against displacement radially of the top plate. Thegroove or slot 29 prevents angular displacement of the arm 28 and of thebottom plate 25 by holding the portion 21 of the arm 28 in an obviousmanner.

The bridge piece 40, when put in place as described, prevents' ingressof moisture, grass and shrubbery fragments and the like into themounting and thus avoids jamming thereof. This feature facilitatesremoval of the bottom plate from the top plate, when such bottom plateis used, for the purpose of gaining access to the shaft 2|. for

example, for removing the blade 22 for sharpening of its cutting edges,or for other purposes.

Attention is directed to the fact that the edge of the apron or skirt38. is rounded, as particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, forming askid-like structure which may be used in conjunction with the new fingerguide for operating the machine without a bottom plate. This featurewill be explained in detail later on.

The structure so far described does not require massive mounting armsand the overall weight of the machine is therefore kept at a minimum.

At the other side of the structure are provided loops 45 and 46 punchedor pressed out from the material of the top plate II in exactly the samemanner as described in connection with the loops 86, 36 for mounting thearm or extension 28 of the bottom plate. These loops form a mounting forthe arm 41 of the new finger guide or guard element 48. A bridge piece48 is provided in the intervening space between the loops 45 and 46.This bridge piece is formed exactly like the bridge piece 48 describedin connection with the mounting of the bottom guard or guide plate. Thefinger guide 48 is straight, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having twoextensions iii and a curved bottom edge, which is particularly apparentfrom Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

The extensions 5| of the finger guide element 48 guide grass andshrubbery, incident to the operation of the machine, which involvesmoving the machine sideways over the area to be cut or trimmed, into thespace between the guard teeth '20 in the direction of the arrows shownin Fig. 2.

The new finger guide presents two principal advantages, namely, first,it permits trimming along a straight path alongside an object such as apedestal or a tombstone, thus eliminating angular twisting of themachine, and, second, the machine may be used without the bottom plate25, the rounded edges of the finger guide and of the apron 30 acting inthe manner of skids whichand improving its handling, and particularlythe attachment and removal of the bottom guard plate; the mounting ofthe bottom guard plate is protected against ingress of grass, shrubberyand like fragments, and against ingress of moisture, preventing jammingthereof; displacement of the bottom guard plate radially is prevented bythe positive attachment of the bridge piece 40 which is bolted to theridge 31 of the top plate l3, holding the arm 28 in place; angulardisplacement of the bottom plate is avoided by disposing part of the arm28 in the slot or groove 29 of the apron 38; the mounting for the fingerguide element 48 corresponds to the mounting of the arm 28 of the bottomplate 25, with all the advantages resulting therefrom; the curved bottomedge of the guard 48 permits tilting of the structure, as on a swivel,facilitating the operation and handling of the machine; the cuttingarea'underneath the top plate I3 is not obstructed by any memberextending upwardly from the bottom plate, as in previous structures;there are no obstructions on top of the machine which would bedetrimental either from the manufacturing, operation or appearance pointof view; the structure of the finger guide eliminates angulartwisting'of the machine when trimming is desired along a straight path;and the machine may be used without the bottom guard plate by using theapron and the finger guide as skids in contact with th ground, all asdescribed above in detail.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the accompanyingclaims wherein I have defined what I believe to be new and desire tohave protected by Letters Patent of the United States.

I claim:

1. A rotary grass cutter of the class described comprising a rotatablecutting blade, a, relatively stationary generally circular platelikemember disposed above said blade, said member carrying a motor forrotating said cutting blade and formin a top guard plate therefor, arelatively Wide extension which is integral with said top guard plateprojecting radially rearwardly and angularly downwardly therefrom toform a peripherally arcuate rearwardly disposed and downwardly directedapron for catching objects dislodged by said blade incident to thecutting operation thereof and deflecting such objects downwardly fordeposit on the ground away from the operator, the downwardly dependingportion of said apron being provided with a substantially centrallydisposed slotlike cutout, a companion bottom guard plate disposedunderneath said cutting blade, an arm which is integral with said bottomguard plate extendin radially rearwardly therefrom and being bent uponitself angularly upwardly and radially inwardly, the angularly upwardlyextending portion of said arm being disposed in said slotlike cutout inthe apron of said top guard plate to hold said arm and therewith saidbottom guard plate against angular displacement relative to said topguard plate, mounting means for securing the radially inwardly extendingportion of said arm on said top guard plate comprisinge;

pair of spaced looplike members projecting axially upwardly from saidtop guard plate for receiving the radially inwardly extending portion ofsaid arm, a generally U-shaped clamping member disposed within the spacebetween said looplike members to hold such portion of said arm inengagement with the top guard plate, and means for securing saidclamping member to fasten said arm in engagement with said top guardplate, said clamping member filling the space between said looplikemembers and its legs embracing the sides of said arm and contacting saidtop guard plate to prevent ingress of fragmentary matter into saidmounting and consequent binding of the parts thereof.

2. A rotary grass cutter of the class described having a rotatablecutting blade, a relatively stationary generally circular top guardplate disposed above said blade, operating means including a motorsupported on said top guard plate, a first relatively wide extensionprojecting from said top guard plate rearwardly and angularly downwardlyforming a peripherally arcuate downwardly directed apron in the rearthereof for catching objects dislodged by said blade incident to thecutting operation thereof and deflecting such objects downwardly fordeposit on the ground away from the operator, the lower edge of saidapron forming an arcuate generally laterally disposed skid, a secondextension projecting from said top guard plate radially forwardly andangularly downwardly to form an arcuate deflector for directing groundgrowth inwardly toward said cutting blade for cutting thereby, the loweredge of said deflector being rounded and forming a companion arcuategenerally laterally disposed skid, said skids being in engagement withthe ground in the operation of said cutter and having the triplefunction, first, of supporting the entire cutter includin the operatingmeans supported on said top guard plate; second, of protecting therotating blade and operating parts thereof against contact with theground; and third, of facilitating the lateral sideways manipulation ofthe cutter by the operator.

HENRY C. DREISCHERF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.21,289 Orr Dec. 5, 19391,771,126 Kelsea July 22, 1930 2,091,827 Mercatoris Aug. 31, 19372,115,265 Jennett Apr. 26, 1938 2,251,023 Orr July 29, 1941 2,263,431White Nov. 18, 1941 2,312,972 Orr Mar 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 453,920 Great Britain 1936

